First-Generation Chevy Volt Used More Like An EV Than A Hybrid

Sponsored Links

When the first-generation Chevrolet Volt initially launched, there was a fair deal of confusion over how to classify it. GM tended to prefer labels which conveyed the car as a rechargeable plug-in EV with a petrol engine range extender, while many accused the automaker of being disingenuous, as the powertrain technically shares more in common with your run-of-the-mill plug-in hybrid EV.

No doubt, some of you will see this distinction as splitting hairs. But for those who care, the Idaho National Lab recently released data which suggests that the current Chevrolet Volt traveled nearly as many miles average on pure electricity as the most-traveled EV in the United States: the Nissan Leaf.

Website Hybrid Cars has the full data presented in a variety of illustrative plots, but from just the table above, you can see that American Chevrolet Volt owners drive the car nearly 95 percent as far on pure electricity annually as the owners of competing pure EVs – the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric, and Honda Fit EV. Additionally, electric miles make up almost 75 percent of the total miles traveled on average in the first-generation Chevrolet Volt – and the Volt drove 26 percent more miles than the closest EV, the Nissan Leaf.

So clearly, for all practical purposes, data shows that the Chevrolet Volt has been used in the US more like an EV than any other plug-in hybrid; the closest PHEV is the Ford Fusion Energi, with a mere 35 percent of its miles coming from electricity, on average. Why is that? While we can technically only speculate, it seems pretty clear that General Motors did their research when deciding just how large of a battery pack to give the Volt; 40 or so miles is enough to cover the average American’s daily mileage, although with very few miles to spare. Conversely, the Fusion Energi only has around half the electric mileage.

But needless to say, another key is the Chevrolet Volt’s petrol generator. Unlike the so-called “pure” EVs, owners can use 100 percent of the Volt’s electric range regularly because they’ve no fear of being stranded until the fuel tank empties, and they can refuel in seconds. Other EVs don’t have the same luxury, and owners must always consider both how close they’ve gotten to their range limit, and where the nearest charging station is.

Sponsored Links

Besides bringing you the latest GM News, GM Authority also has a great forum where you can post topics, ask and answer questions as well as discuss all things GM. Visit the GM Authority forum today!

— Aaron Birch

Aaron Birch is an automotive enthusiast and writer/filmmaker from Detroit, MI. As a rule, he only buys cars older than himself.

Sponsored Links

7 Comments

This is in part due to EREV’s advantage that you can more easily stop driving the car when its battery is depleted.

If you’ve used up your EV driving range, back at home you can plug in and hop in your second car while it charges.

Thus you can load balance your Volt to EV-only usage, and avoid lugging gasoline miles on it.

It would be interesting to do the math with loading miles on a cheaper used car for gasoline driving… but looking at those stats, I suspect Volt owners in the study are doing that already. Having a second car for long distance drives, keeping those highway miles off the Volt.

With Prius Plug-in and others, you do have a battery status, but gasoline and EV enter the drivetrain more routinely. Thus making it harder to load balance… at least, in theory.

According to Voltstats, the owners do travel many highway miles, and never need a second car. There is one Volt that has accumulated over 200,000 miles (and most on electricity), a feat no other vehicle has done!

I am a Volt owner.
Volt owners love their EV stats.
However, Volt owners do not love their EV stats so much that they would buy and/or use a second car rather than drive their Volts in extended range. That is silly. The main reason for getting a Volt is that it has the range extender. Unlike the BMW i3, the Volt performs in range extended mode just as well as in battery mode. And, in range extended mode, the car gets 35 MPG. I can’t see of a reason why I would stop driving the Volt when the battery is depleted.

That’s funny. Every Volt owner I am personally friends with, and every prospective Volt buyer I know, is planning on using it as a second car.

It may be different out here in CA/Silicon Valley. Here the HOV lane use passes are quite coveted, and many use it solely for their commutes in the carpool lanes. And yes, the morning commute traffic is that bad. I usually don’t get back on the road until 7 PM just to avoid it.

Another point in favor of the Chevy Volt against the other PHEVs (Fordi, Honda, and Toyota) is that the Volt runs on electricity at 100% of its power range, up to 99 MPH, while the others are speed limited (up to 65 MPH), so the Volt owner can drive as a BEV. Its range extender can support the electric motor at high speeds only if the battery has been discharged, which then runs as a hybrid.

The 2016 Volt (2nd generation) can run more as a parallel hybrid, but its EV range is higher. GM has posted 50 miles of range, but we all know that the new Volt owner will get past 60 and even up to 70 miles of EV range. And we will see how Cadillac new CT6 PHEV will do, too.

The Volt is like Hamburger Helper for gas. It makes a little go a long way.

I’m at 1825 miles on 8.3 gallons of gas. I have not had to fill up in 6 weeks. 233.mpg thanks to a Nuclear Boost of electric from Commonwealth Edison.

The ultimate in flex fuel vehicles. Not only gasoline, but Natural Gas, Nuke, Solar, Wind, and Hydro. Everything except the gas is 100% American energy, putting American dollars back into the American economy.

Three cross country trips in it, leaving the noisy, bumpy, fatiguing, and lumbering Expedition at home, have been pure bliss. Plus the gas saved at 40mpg vs the 12 on the Expedumbo was enough to pay for a Hotel on the way there AND back. BONUS!